Texas Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center

Within the frame of substance abuse treatment, dual diagnosis refers to treating addiction and a co-occurring mental health disorder at the same time. It’s immaterial whether drug addiction caused the mental health challenge, made it worse, or if the mental health disorder actually led to the addiction. Learn how therapists at our Texas dual diagnosis treatment center approach co-occurring psychological disorders.

Not a Chicken vs. Egg Question

Against the backdrop of a successful drug addiction treatment, it’s important to realize that it doesn’t matter which came first. What does matter is the fact that a dual diagnosis assessment shows the presence of a mental illness. It’s there at the same time as a substance abuse problem. For the professional treating people struggling with addiction and psychological disorders, dealing with both conditions at the same time is vital.

Options for Care at Our Texas Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center

Many people dealing with depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia find that using addictive drugs eases their discomfort. Prescription medications that treat these conditions frequently help release dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter related to pleasure and reward. Interestingly, most drugs artificially increase dopamine levels in the body, which makes someone feel good and energetic for a brief period of time.

However, because a large number of drugs alter the body’s chemistry, they manipulate the neurotransmitter to withhold dopamine unless prompted. Since the body now only releases dopamine when the drug’s chemicals provoke it, dependence and addiction can develop quickly. The absence of this natural process makes recovery difficult and mental health challenges worse. Unless therapists focus on delivering high-quality dual diagnosis treatment to participants, depression can set in and worsen chances for lasting sobriety.

Trauma and Substance Abuse

In situations where a psychological disorder precedes a substance abuse problem, trauma is frequently at the root. Traumatic experiences may lead back to childhood neglect, adolescent abuse, or something that happened during adulthood. Most commonly, people dealing with addictions don’t know that they’re also victims of a mental health issue. In fact, many have never received a formal diagnosis.

Treating drug addiction and a psychological disorder at the same time calls for concerted action, which may include the following addiction therapies: